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Introduction

a) Company Background

Propel Network Sdn Bhd [1] is an organization which strongly believes in Commitment, Quality,

Innovation and Speed in providing world class products and solutions to customers. It is a

company that provides telecommunication services for both local and foreign markets.

Propel Network is also a diversified company providing customers with various world class

products, as well as engineering and software solutions to its customers. First in the world RF

drive test tools for LTE & WiMAX and first in the world mobile VOIP (Voice Over Internet

Protocol) wireless network optimization are some examples of renown products and solutions

that Propel is currently serving its customers. Others include portable cell, project controller,

electronic media, digital door locks, software applications and systems installation. The far-

sightedness and commitment of Propel's management has earned the recognition of

international clients and partners

Currently, the company focuses on performing extensive drive test and collect data of WiMAX,

3G, 2G networks with RF drive test tools i.e. XCAL, TEMS, NEMO. Besides, it also conducts

Single Site Verification (SSV) to test if the radiating sites meet the minimum criteria, ascertain

the coverage area of the base stations, analyze RF network quality, carry out cluster

optimization and propose parameter changes to meet KPI requirement, produce SSV and KPI

reports, coordinate with various teams to ensure all works are carried out accordingly and also

familiarize with all drive test and post processing tools used.

Propel Network Sdn. Bhd was located in Shah Alam. The General Manager of this company is

Mr.Leong WM which founded 2 years ago. Mr.Leong was a co-founder of RNA company right

before he founded his own company Propel Network Sdn. Bhd.

In short, Propel Network is a sub-contractor company which gets the jobs from vendors like

Samsung and Motorola. The latest project which the company focuses on was the YTL Comms

YES WiMAX/VoIP 4G technology.

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b) Project I was involved

During my internship period, I was involved in the project given by our vendor, Samsung, which

run the YES 4G technology founded by YTL communication. We are required to do drive testing

on clusters to ensure that the coverage on these areas is acceptable. Each cluster is an area

which has many telecommunication antenna we called “site”. Every site is made up of 3 sectors,

namely alpha, beta and gamma, in which each sector covers about 120 degree. These sites are

the one that broadcast signal so that the area can be under coverage.

Figure 1: A site with 3 sectors. Every site is identified by its site ID, which in this case is CKL0408.

Figure 2: Picture of the antenna.

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Basically, the project I was involved can be described by the flow chart below.

Figure 3: Flow chart of the project.

Firstly, when we first receive a cluster, we will send a rigger to complete site audit. Riggers are

the person who climbs the telecommunication tower to adjust antennas parameter like azimuth

and tilting.

After the completion of site audit, we will do a single site verification (SSV) test for every site in

the cluster. SSV is done to ensure that every site is working correctly, such as hand-over,

download & upload rate, PING test etc.

After the SSV is done on every site in the cluster, the next stage is optimization. During

optimization stage, drive tester will drive along in the cluster to collect signal data, and the

result is sent to an optimizer team in the headquarter for optimization. After the optimization is

done by optimizer, rigger will be sent to tune the site again, and drive tester will collect signal

data along the cluster area again. These procedures are repeated until the cluster is optimized,

which means the coverage within the cluster are the best we can get.

The final stage of the project is the Key Performance Index (KPI) test. This is the stage where we

test the coverage within the cluster to see whether it has satisfied certain requirement or

standard. If it passes the KPI test, the cluster will be passed back to our vendor, Samsung.

Otherwise, the entire procedure will be repeated.

Site Audit

completed

by riggers

SSV test

done by

Driver

Testers

1st Cluster

Drive by Drive

Testers

Optimization done

by Radio Network

Optimizers

Site Tuning

completed by

riggers

2nd Cluster

Drive by Drive

Testers

Optimization done

by Radio Network

Optimizers

Site Tuning

completed

by riggers

3rd Cluster

Drive by Drive

Testers

Pre-KPI Cluster

Drive by Drive

Testers

KPI Cluster Drive

by Drive Testers

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c) Detail of my own work

My job in the company is a telecommunication engineer, or drive tester. During my internship

period, I was involved in three drive testing activities. They are SSV test, cluster drive test, and

KPI test. The software and some basic equipments I used are described as below:

1) XCAL software

XCAL is a software we used to collect signal data in the computer and also help us in analysis of

data that we collected. It is developed by a company called Accuver. Accuver is a leading

provider of wireless test and measurement solutions that optimize the performance and

reliability of mobile networks. [2] to use the software, we need to plug in the license key

provided by our vendor.

Figure 4: XCAL license key.

2) Wimax dongle

Figure 5: Wimax dongle.

Wimax dongle is a device we use to connect to the Wimax antenna. It is a USB device that can

be connected to the computer, so that signal data can be collected and saved into the computer

using XCAL software. It function just like a normal broadband we use. Without the dongle, we

would not be able to access to internet. This is the essential and basic device for any of the test

we perform.

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3) GPS dongle

Figure 6: GPS dongle.

GPS dongle is a device that allow us to locate our current position on the map. It is a

electromagnetic device with a USB port so that we can connect it to our computer. With GPS

dongle, we can know our current position on the map with its coordinate while we are doing

drive testing in the car.

The set up of our equipment in a vehicle is as shown in figure below:

Figure 7: Set up of the equipment in the car for drive testing.

Types of drive testing activities:

Single Site Verification (SSV) test

Single site verification is the first stage of the drive test. We are to run 5 different tests and

collect data for reporting.

The 5 tests are:

PING Test – Where the servers are tested from the testing laptop to achieve optimum results

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Throughput Test – Where the Downlink and Uplink rate is test (with Channel-Inteference to

Noise Ratio (CINR) and Receive Signal Strength Index (RSSI) must be above 30dB and -50dB

respectively

For downlink: Maximum Rate: 14 MBps, Average Rate: 12 MBps

For uplink: Maximum Rate: 4.5 MBps, Average Rate: 4 MBps

*Test is done in each sector (antenna) of the site

Figure 8: Screenshot of the download rate test.

Figure 9: Screenshot of the upload rate test.

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Network Entry (NE) Test – the Network is accesses (login) repeatedly for 10 times to ensure

many users able to connect repeatedly at that sector at low signal levels (CINR: 16-20dB)


Figure 10: Screenshot of the network entry test.

Mobile VOIP Phone Test – two mobile VOIP phone are used to call each other 10 times

continuously to ensure users are able to use the VOIP phone in that sector


Figure 11: VOIP mobile phone provided by our vendor, Samsung.

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Handover (HO) Test – a handover drive test is done to ensure that the connection can be

handed-over with the 3-sectors (intra – HO) and between neighboring sites as well (inter – HO)

Neighbour List (NL) – In order to have successful inter – HO, neighboring sites must be added in

the “Neighbour List” on the system. Neighbour of each sector is taken down.


Figure 12: Screenshot of the neighbor list.

Cluster drive test

At this stage the entire cluster (usually a size of part of a town) is driven to test the coverage,

where the signal strength is plotted in logging file. The area map with the route is provide by the

cluster owners (Radio Network Optimizers). Figure below shows the result of the cluster drive

test, where the colored route is the route that we have driven. Different colours indicate a

different signal strength at that particular location. While the legend of the color can be changed,

we usually uses blue to indicate the strongest signal strength, followed by green, yellow, orange

and red as the lowest signal strength. From the result of cluster drive, optimizer can do their

analysis and change the parameter of antennas. After that, a 2nd drive test is perform to see how

the result changes after the site parameter is changed. There are 2 parameter that can be

changed in every site, that are tilting and azimuth. After several times of repeated drive testing,

optimization and tuning, and the cluster has meet 90% of the requirement set by our vendor,

the cluster is suggested to do a pre-KPI test.

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Figure 13: Screenshot of the cluster drive test result.

Key Performance Index (KPI) test

KPI test is the last stage of the drive test. In this test, it can be devided into 3 parts, namely

coverage test, throughput test, and Mean Opinion Score (MOS) test.

Below is the chart to show the differences between the Pilot Cluster test and normal cluster test.

Figure 14: Differences between the Pilot Cluster test and normal cluster test.

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1) Drive Test - Coverage

Test Conditions and Requirements:

1 laptop computer and 1 device

1 DM and DM analyzer

Final KPI Route

Test Procedure:

The test device will be located at the starting test position.

Locate a dongle on the roof.

Manual logging – Using command window, ping 32 bytes to ftp server

Measure the RF environment (RSSI) on the KPI route

2) Drive Test – User Throughput Test


2 laptop computers and 2 devices


Final KPI Route

Test Procedure:

The test device will be located at the starting test position.

MS #1 downloads a big file and MS #2 uploads a big file to FTP server. (The file size should be

bigger than 200Mbyte)*Refer to latest batch files.

Save the download and upload throughput logs with RF condition, Handover information and

PER by DM tool.

3)Drive Test – VOIP MOS


2 laptop computers and 2 set of MOS devices


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Final KPI Route

Test Procedure:

The test devices (MS#1, MS#2) will be located at the starting test position .

After the RF environment check, the mobile will perform network entry to prepare for making a

voice call.

Use MOS measurement tool(X-CAL) to make a call and send the voice sample.

The following parameters are for auto-call setting.

- Idle time : 5

- Setup time : 20

- T-setup time : 30

- Traffic time : 65

- Call count : 9999

MS#1 have to stay at the fixed location with good RF condition (CINR > 25dB, RSSI > -65dBm)

MS#2 will move to KPI drive route.

*Make sure VoIP phone battery is empty before starting the test. During the test, phone will

charge as it is connected to laptop.

*Once the VoIP phone battery is full, please change the battery into empty battery.

4) Cell Edge Test – Download and Upload Throughput




Test will be conducted at 10 covered area locations per pilot cluster. YTL will decide the 10 point

locations.

Test Procedure:

Define 10 locations prior to start test

After checking RSSI of user device, test mobile will set up the call.

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For DL Test, MS downloads a big file from FTP server. (The file size should be bigger than 200

Mbytes.)

For UL Test, MS uploads a big file to FTP server. (The file size should be bigger than 200

Mbytes.)

Save the DL/UL throughput logs with RF condition and GPS information for 2 minutes per

location by DM tool.

5) Drive Test – Ping BE32,UGS,BE1450 (Pilot Cluster)




Define short driving route for 100 seconds within the covered area.

Short driving route (include all RF conditions, include HO (2~3 or sites)

Test Procedure:

Keep driving on the defined short route, after finishing one test can proceed to next test.

Perform 100 pings with 32 bytes per second from test computer to server (BE or UGS

connection) at mobility condition

Perform 100 pings with 1450 bytes (pilot cluster) per second from test computer to server (BE

connection) at mobility condition

6) Drive Test – Ping ertPS




Define short driving route for 100 seconds within the covered area.


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Test Procedure:

Perform 5000 pings with 32 bytes per 20ms from test computer to server (ertPS connection) at

mobility condition.

7) Drive Test – MS Initial Network Entry Time (Pilot Cluster)




Same short drive route.


Test Procedure:

After the RF environment check, the mobile will set up the call by DM auto-call function and try

10 times within the drive route. (Auto-call setting : Idle Time=10s, Setup Time=30s)

8)Drive Test – Intra ASN Gateway HO




Vehicle speed (100~120Km/h)

Test Procedure:

If there is no drive test samples available with this vehicle speed range, this test item should be

skipped

Define drive route

The test mobile will be located at the starting test position

Locate two devices inside vehicle

Manual logging - Using command window, ping 32 bytes to ftp server

Save the logs with RF condition and Handover information DM tool moving around intra ASN-

GW handover areas.

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9) Drive Test – Inter ASN Gateway HO




Vehicle speed (100~120Km/h)

Test Procedure:

Inter ASN-GW Handover test is applied only when the H/O is available in the cluster under test

Define drive route that includes inter ASN-GW HO

The test mobile will be located at the starting test position

Locate two devices inside vehicle

Manual logging - Using command window, ping 32 bytes to ftp server

Save the logs with RF condition and Handover information DM tool moving around intra ASN-

GW handover areas.

MS#1 have to stay at the fixed location with good RF condition (CINR > 25dB, RSSI > -65dBm)

MS#2 will move to KPI drive route.

*Make sure VoIP phone battery is empty before starting the test. During the test, phone will

charge as it is connected to laptop.

*Once the VoIP phone battery is full, please change the battery into empty battery.

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d) Working culture and management-labour relationship

The company hierarchy can be described by the chart below:

Figure 15: Company management-labour hierarchy.

During my internship period, I observed a good working culture in the company. Firstly,

everyone is commited to the company. They are hardworking and always try to get the job done

by the end of the day, even though it is out of the working hour. Besides, people in the company

are punctual. As the working hour started from 9am to 6pm, everyone is already in the company

at about 8.55am. Every morning, every drive tester have to check their schedule of the day,

prepare for equipment, set up the equipment in the car, and go to the site to do drive testing.

Optimizer in the headquarter are always keep in touch with the drive tester through mobile

phone, and we have been working well together. The management-labour relationship is good

in the company. We always have good communication with the management side, so that our

job can be done more efficiently.

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e) Relationship between peoples in the company

The company is made up of a multi racial community. There are 3 races in the company, namely

Malay, Chinese and Indian. We are all working well together with tolerance. Besides, all the

races are willing to help each other when in need. For example, during Chinese new year, most

of the Chinese in the company needed to take extra leave, causing a lack of human resources in

the company. However, the Malays and Indian in the company are willing to work during

Chinese New Year to help relieve the shortage of human power. We are like a big family,

respecting each other’s religious believe and culture, and never have any problem with racial

discrimination. I am glad that I have the chance to work in such an environment so that I learned

to work with peoples with different races and background. This company definitely fulfill the

purpose of 1 Malaysia.

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Conclusion

In these three months industrial training in Propel Network Sdn. Bhd, I have learnt a lot of things

which cannot be learnt in University life. In terms of theory, I realized that not all the theories

can be directly applied in a real working environment. Indeed, theory part is the basic for us to

know more knowledge but hands-on experience is important as well. In real world there have

plenty of unforeseen factors can be occurred. As what I studied in university, most of the

theories are for ideal case, but when come to a real world, we need to modify and compensate

with certain factors so that the results we get are closest to the ideal.

Other than that, teamwork is one of the important key as well. I got a chance to work as a team

with other people. As what I mentioned before, teamwork is very important, it can determine

the successful of the given tasks. In real world, it is impossible for us to work alone. We might

need others’ helps in order we can complete the tasks. During these three months, I almost

every day work as a SSV field test engineer with my partner. Hence, teamwork is one go the

important in order to complete the task perfectly. While doing SSV field test, a lot of

communications needed between me and my partners and me and my seniors in office. It is

important when we’re facing some technical problems and need some help or troubleshooting

from seniors. As a trainee we must know how to communicate well with either seniors or other

colleagues. Hence, communication behavior and skill is one of the important factors as well.

Lastly, I realized the importance of the learning behaviors. It is an important attitude if you want

to be self-upgrade and it’s a key of success. Last time I do not have the initiative to learn a new

thing. However during these three months, I understand that if we do not have the initiative to

learn, then we will never learn a new thing and we will never ever able to equip ourselves with

the latest information. Egoism is the factor to block us to walking forward. Therefore we must

empty the cup in order to be filled.

Reference

1) http://www.pronetwork.com.my/

2) http://www.accuver.com/7-about-us.html

http://www.pronetwork.com.my/

http://www.accuver.com/7-about-us.html

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APPENDIX

internship report 2012 (propel network sdn.bhd)

Documents